Subsurface well control apparatus



v. R. CHERRY ETAL 3,375,874 SUBSURFACE WELL CONTROL APPARATUS April 2,1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I '7 INVENTORS Vonner R. Cherry Roland 0. Cox

7/ WWNEY Filed April 13, 1965 A ril 2, 1968 v. R. CHERRY ETAL ,3

SUBSURFACE WELL CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1965INVENTORS Vonner R. Cherry Roland 0. Cox

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SUBSURFACE WELL CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1965Fig. 7-0

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SUBSURFACE WELL CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS Vonner R. Cherry 4 I Roland 0. Cox f M Wfm United StatesPatent Oflice 3,375,874 Patented Apr. 2, 1938 3,375,874 SUBSURFACE WELLCONTROL APPARATUS Vonner R. Cherry, Mountain Home, Ark., and Roland 0.Cox, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas,Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,803 15Claims. (Cl. 166-414) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A control valve systemproviding surface controlled subterranean valve means permittinginjection or withdrawal or simultaneous injection and withdrawal offluids in a Well and providing for large volume of flow into or out ofthe well and positive shut-oil of flow when desired.

This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to apparatusfor controlling flow in wells.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for controllingflow within a well which accommodates extremely high rates of flow andwhich provides automatic protection against uncontrolled flow from thewell.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well control apparatusof the type described in which the full bore of the tubing throughoutits entire length is available during normal operations for the runningof well tools therethrough for performing such operations as cleaning,bailing, swabbing, running corrosion or pressure surveys, or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a well control apparatus of the typedescribed for use in a Well equipped for flow through a plurality offlow passages, which after it has actuated to close the flow passagescan be manipulated either hydraulically or mechanically to open one ormore of the flow passages.

A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus forcontrolling flow of fluids within a well equipped for flow through aplurality of flow passages, at least two, which permits large volumes offlow, which apparatus automatically prevents undesired uncontrolled flowfrom the well, and which has means operable to open or close one or moreof the flow passages hydraulically or mechanically.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well control apparatusof the type described which is economical to manufacture, install andservice.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety device ofthe character described which will automatically shut off flow from thewell at a subsurface level in response to a predetermined conditionsensed at the surface.

An important object of this invention is to provide a control device ofthe character described which is adapted to permit the introduction orWithdrawal of fluids into or from the well at extremely high rates suchas would be required in the case of gas storage wells.

Another important object is to provide, in a storage Well, a subsurfacecontrol means which will permit large volumes of fluids to be injectedinto or withdrawn from the well and which will automatically shut offflow from the Well in an emergency such as failure of the surfaceconnetcions or surface equipment.

Another object is to provide a well safety apparatus which permits freecirculation of fluids in either the conventional or reverse pattern,whereby fiuidsmay be forced downwardly through thetubing to return tothe surface through the tubing-casing annulus or fluids may be forceddownwardly through the tubing-annulus to return to the surface throughthe tubing, as desired.

Another object is to provide a Well safety apparatus of the characterdescribed which will permit the unloading of water from the bottom ofthe well through the tubing without interrupting the flow into or out ofthe Well through the tubing-casing annulus.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view showing a well flow control during itsinstallation into or removal from the well;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view showing the Well flow control deviceinstalled in a well and in position for normal operating conditions,flow being permitted through either or both the tubing and tubing-casingannulus passageways;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the well flowcontrol device in position closing the tubing and the tubing-casingannulus passageways, preventing flow from the well;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 showing thedevice with the tubing passageway reopened by hydraulic means, thetubin-g-casing annulus passageway remaining closed;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the valves heldin their fully opened positions by mechanical means;

FIGURE 5-A is an enlarged view of the mechanical shifting tool of FIGURE5 which holds the valves open;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view showing the upper or safety valve portionof the well flow control device removed and replaced by a tube;

FIGURE 7-A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the upper portion ofa well flow control device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 7-B is a view similar to FIGURE 7-A, being a continuation thereofshowing an intermediate portion of the well flow control device;

FIGURE 7-C is a view similar to FIGURE 7B being a continuation thereofshowing the lower portion of the well flow control device;

FIGURE 8-A is a view similar to FIGURE 7-A showing the Well flow controldevice of FIGURES 7-A, 7-B and 7-C with the valves thereof in theirclosed positions;

FIGURES 8-B is a view similar to FIGURE 8A, being a continuationthereof, showing the intermediate portion of the device;

FIGURE 8-0 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation andpartly in section, of the flapper valve of FIGURE 8-A and its seat; and,

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary partly sectional enlarged view showing theflapper valve illustrated in FIGURE 7-A.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that a well casing 20 whichis installed in the well bore in the conventional manner passes throughthe subterranean formation 21 and that the lower portion of the wellcasing is then plugged by the deposition of cement as at 22. The wellcasing 20 is provided with perforations 23 which communicate the bore 24of the casing with the subterranean formation so that fluids may flowtherebetween. A well packer 25 which constitutes the lower portion ofthe well flow control device 26 of the present invention is installed inan intermediate portion of the well casing 20, and may be set near thesurface or near the subterranean formation, as desired. However, it willusually be preferable to install the packer near the surface, probably adistance equal to the length of from one to three joints of tubing.

While the well packer 25 may be of any suitable type, it is necessarythat it be capable of withstanding a pressure differential in eitherlongitudinal direction. Thus, the packer may be of the removable lugtype such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,506,680 issued toHerbert C. Otis, or US. Patent No. 2,862,560 to I. H. Bostock et al., orit may be of the permanent type such as that exemplified by the Otistype WA Packer which is illustrated and described on page 3638 of theComposite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services, 1964-65 edition,and which is provided with a flapper valve of the type described andillustrated on page 3643 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipmentand Services, 1964- 65 edition. The packer illustrated and describedherein is substantially identical to the Otis type WA Packer, but isprovided with additional features.

It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that the packer 25 is provided with amandrel 26:: having an external anchoring and seal means 27 thereon. Thepacker mandrel has a bore 28 extending therethrough and this bore isclosable by a flapper valve 29 which is biased toward closed position bya spring (not shown). The flapper valve is normally closed except whensome means is provided for holding it open. The upper end of the bore 28of the packer is enlarged as at 30 to form a receptacle for the lowerportion of a valve housing 35, forming part of the flow control device26, as will be described more fully later. Below the flapper valve thebore 28 of the mandrel is enlarged as at 31 to provide ample space forthe ivotal movement of the flapper valve and to provide space for theflow of fluids which may enter and leave lateral openings 32 formed inthe wall of the mandrel 26 below the seal member 27. Below the lateralopenings 32 the packer mandrel bore is reduced in diameter to form aninternal annular sealing surface 33, and below this sealing surface thebore of the mandrel is further reduced to provide an internal annularupwardly facing stop shoulder 34, whose purpose will be hereinafterdescribed. Below the stop shoulder the portion 36 of the bore isthreaded, and, if desired, the lower end of the packer mandrel may beprovided with external threads 37 for attachment of a tail pipe whichmay extend downwardly below the packer toward the bottom of the well.

In the upper portion of the well casing shown in FIG- URE 1, the valvehousing forming the upper portion of the control device 26 is shown asit appears while being installed or removed from the well. This upperportion of the control device is lowered into the well on the string ofwell tubing 40 to which it is connected, and a depending conduit 39having a threaded bottom end portion 41 extends downwardly from thevalve housing 35 and is engageable with corresponding internal threads36 in the lower portion of the bore of the well packer. When the conduit39 is lowered through the bore of the packer past the flapper valve 29,an annular enlargement or head 42 at the lower end of the conduit 39having a seal ring 43 mounted in an external annular groove formed insuch enlargement or head is received in the reduced bore of the packerproviding the sealing surface 33 at the lower end of the bore of thepacker, and the seal ring 43 engages and seals between the enlargement42 and the sealing surface. The beveled shoulder 44 at the lower end ofthe enlargement engages the stop shoulder 34 to limit downward movementof the conduit 39 in the packer. As the conduit 39 is moved into thepacker, the reduced seal head 45 at the lower end of the valve housing35 moves into the enlarged bore 30 at the upper end of the packer andthe beveled shoulder 46 at the lower end of the seal head engages theupwardly facing stop shoulder 47 at the lower end of the enlarged boreto limit downward movement of the valve housing in the bore of thepacker. An annular seal ring 48 disposed in an external annular groovein the seal head engages the bore wall of the enlarged bore 30 to sealbetween the seal head and the packer.

A small diameter control fluid line 50 connects the upper end of thevalve housing 35 with a surface control apparatus 51 at the surface ofthe earth, which supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure from a suitablesource, such as a pump 52, through the line 50 to the valve housing tocontrol flow of fluid through the casing and tubing between thesubterranean formation 21 and surface flow lines 53 and 54 whichcommunicate with the casing and the tubing, respectively. The wellinstallation includes a usual casing head 55 through which the flow line53 opens to the casing and has usual well known means (not shown)through which the packer 25 and other well tools may be moved into thewell casing and which prevents flow of fluids from the casing duringthis operation.

As is clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upper end of the housing 35is provided with a reduced neck or upward extension into which the lowerend of the tubing string 40 is threaded. The bore 61 of the housingextends downwardly from the neck to a slightly enlarged portion 62 justbelow the neck in which is slidably disposed the upper reduced end ortubular extension 63 of a valve operating piston 64 which is slidablymounted in an enlarged bore or cylinder 65 formed in the valve housingand comprising a portion of the bore of the housing. The control fluidflow line 50 is threaded or otherwise secured in the enlarged upper endof a flow passage 66 in the housing extending downwardly from the upperend of the housing below the neck 60 into the cylinder 65 above thepiston 64. A seal ring 67 is mounted in an external annular recessformed in the periphery of the piston 64 and seals between the pistonand the wall of the cylinder 65. A depending tubular extension 68extends downwardly from the piston 64 through a reduced internal annularseat flange 69 formed in the bore of the housing 35 at the lower end ofthe chamber 65, and a helical coil spring 70 is supported at one end onthe internal annular flange 69 and engages the under side of the piston64 to bias the piston upwardly in the chamber toward the position shownin FIGURE 3. An annular seal ring 71 is mounted in an internal annulargroove in the lower end of the enlarged portion 62 of the bore of thehousing and seals between the housing and the upper tubular extension 63above the piston 64, whereby fluid passing through the bore 72 of thelower depending extension 68, the piston 64 and the upper extension 63will pass upwardly therefrom into the enlarged bore 62 and upwardlythrough the bore 61 into the tubing string 40 thereabove, through whichit flows to the surface of the well and outwardly through the flow line54.

The lower extension 68 of the piston 64 is movable through the bore ofthe internal annular flange 69 and adapted to engage a pivotally mountedflapper valve 75 secured by means of a pivot pin 76 to the housingadjacent the underside of the flange 69 to swing between a closedposition, toward which it is biased by a suitable biasing means, notshown, wherein it engages the beveled seat 77 formed on the underside ofthe flange at the lower end of the bore of the flange to close thepassage therethrough, and an open position shown in FIGURE 2 to whichthe flapper valve is moved by the engagement of the lower tubularextension 68 of the piston with the flapper valve as the piston moveslongitudinally in the housing between the upper position shown in FIGURE3 and the lower position shown in FIGURE 2.

In the enlarged portion" 80 of the bore of the valve housing 35 belowthe flange 69, there is slidable a sliding sleeve valve 81 havinglateral flow ports 82 formed therein for communicating the bore 83 ofthe sleeve valve with lateral ports 85 formed in the wall of the housingand communicating the exterior of the housing with the bore thereof. Anupper external annular seal ring 86 disposed in an external annulargroove formed in the wall of the sleeve valve 81 above the lateral ports82 seals between the sleeve valve and the bore wall of the enlarged bore80 of the housing above the lateral ports 85, and a lower externalannular seal ring 87 disposed in an external annular groove formed inthe lower portion of the sleeve valve 81 at a point spaced below theports 82 of the sleeve valve seals between the lower end of the sleevevalve below the ports 82 of the sleeve valve and the bore wall of thehousing below the ports 85. An intermediate seal ring 88 is disposed inan external annular groove formed in the periphery of the sleeve valve81 just below the lateral ports 82 of the sleeve valve and spacedsufliciently above the lower seal ring 87 to engage the bore wall of theenlarged bore of the valve housing above the lateral ports 85 in thehousing when the sleeve valve is in the upper position shown in FIGURE3. Thus, when the valve is in the lower position shown in FIGURE 2, theupper seal ring 86 and the intermediate seal ring 88 seal between thesleeve valve and the valve housing on opposite sides of the lateralports 82 of the sleeve valve and on opposite sides of the ports 85 inthe valve housing and direct flow from within the bore 83 of the sleevevalve outwardly through the ports 82 to and through the lateral ports 85of the housing and to the exterior of the housing. Conversely, when thesleeve valve is in the upper position shown in FIGURE 3, the lower sealring 87 and the intermediate seal ring 88 seal between the exterior ofthe sleeve valve 81 and the bore wall of the valve housing below andabove the lateral ports 85 of the housing to prevent flow of fluid fromwithin the bore of the sleeve valve to the lateral ports 85, and thusshut off flow outwardly from within the bore of the sleeve valve throughthe ports 85 to the exterior of the housing.

The depending conduit or conductor tube 39 extends upwardly through thereduced lower portion 90 of the bore of the valve housing, and throughthe lower portion of the bore 83 of the sleeve valve 81 and through aninternal annular flange 91 formed in the bore of the sleeve valve intothe upper portion 96 of the bore of the sleeve valve. An internalannular sealing ring 92 is disposed in an internal annular groove formedin the flange 91 and engages and seals between the flange and the upperportion of the conduit 39, whereby fluid flowing through the bore 95 ofthe conduit 39 will pass upwardly through the conduit, through thesleeve valve 81 to the upper portion 96 of the bore of the sleeve valveabove the flange 91 and through the bore of an internal annular stopflange 97 at the upper end of the sleeve valve to the bore of thedepending tubular extension 68 projecting downwardly from the piston 64and engaging the flange 97.

The depending conduit is rigidly secured to the valve housing 35 by oneor more pins 98. The sleeve valve is biased upwardly relative to thedepending conduit, and therefore relative to the valve housing, by aspring 99 whose top end engages the downwardly facing shoulder 100 ofthe flange 97 defining the reduced upper portion of the bore 83 of thesleeve valve 81 and whose bottom end engages the top shoulder 102 of anexternal annular flange 103 of the depending conduit located in the bore83 between the sleeve valve flanges 91 and 97. Upward movement of thesleeve valve relative to the depending conduit is limited by theengagement of the top shoulder of the flange 91 with the bottom shoulderof the flange 103.

It will be apparent that while the upper portion or valve housing 35 ofthe flow control device 26 is shown as being releasably securable to itslower portion or packer 25 by means of the external and internal threadsof the dependent conduit 39 of the valve housing 35 and the mandrel 26aof the packer 25, respectively, the two portions of the flow controldevice can be releasably secured together by any other suitable means,for example, by a well known Hatch mechanism such as is used to connecta tubing string to the Otis Twin Flow Conversion Unit illustrated anddescribed on page 3655 of the above mentioned Composite Catalogue.

In use, when the flow control device 26 is to be installed in a wellcasing, the upper end of the packer 25 is connected to the lower end ofa suitable setting tool and the assembly of the packer and the settingtool is lowerable into the casing by means of a flexible member or lineconnected to the setting tool. If the setting tool is of a common typeutilizing the force generated by the detonation of a powder chargecontained therein to set the packer, the flexible member includes aninsulated electric conductor means through which an electric current canbe transmitted from the surface to the setting tool to detonate thepowder charge. The setting tool preferably has means, such as a rod orstinger, which extends through the mandrel and engages the flapper valve29 to hold it open in order to facilitate movement of the mandrel andsetting tool through any fliuds present in the casing by permitting themto flow through the bore or flow passage 28 of the mandrel.

The assembly of the well packer and the setting tool is then introducedinto the upper end of the casing, through usual surface equipment, suchas a lubricator, mounted on the well head 55 and is then lowered intothe well casing by means of the flexible member. At this time the flowline 53 is closed by a suitable valve (not shown). The surface equipmentincludes sealing means engageable with the flexible member to preventfluid flow out of the casing as the flexible member is movedtherethrough to lower the setting tool and the packer in the casing.

When the well packer is lowered to the desired location in the wellcasing, the powder charge in the setting tool is detonated by anelectric current transmitted to the setting tool through the electricconductor which extends to the surface and the detonation of the powdercharge causes the anchoring and sealing means 27 of the packer to moveinto anchoring and sealing engagement with the well casing to anchor themandrel against movement in the casing and also to seal between themandrel and the casing above the casing perforations 23 and above theports or passages 32 of the mandrel thus closing the annulus between thepacker mandrel and the casing. The setting tool is then released fromthe packer mandrel and is moved upwardly and out of the well casingthrough the usual surface equipment mounted on the well head. As thesetting tool is moved upwardly relative to the mandrel, its rod orstinger means, which engages the flapper valve 29 and holds it open,moves out of engagement with the flapper valve which then is moved bysuitable spring means to its closed position thus closing the mandrelpassage 28.

When the setting tool has been removed from the casing, the pressure inthe well casing above the packer may be reduced by opening a valve inthe flow line 53 to permit fluid to flow from the casing. The upperportion or valve housing of the flow control apparatus is then connectedto the lower end of the string of tubing and is lowered together withthe control fluid line through the surface equipment mounted on the wellhead into the upper end of the casing. If the fluid under pressure isnot introduced through such fluid control line 50 into the bore abovethe piston 64 to move and to hold the piston in its lower position, theflapper valve will be in its closed position engaging the seat 77 of thevalve housing. If desired, during the movement of the valve housing 35into the well casing, fluid pressure may be introduced into the cylinder65 'of the valve housing through the fluid control line 50, in whichevent the valve operating piston 64 is moved to its lowermost positionin the housing wherein it holds the flappervalve 75 and the sleeve valve81 in their open positions so that fluids may flow through the flowpassage provided :by the depending conduit 39, the piston 64 and itsextensions, and the bore 61 of the housing; and also through the lowerportion 90 of the bore of the housing and the ports or apertures 82 andof the sleeve valve and the valve housing to facilitate downwardmovement of the upper portion of the flow control device through thecasing.

As the lower portion of the depending conduit 39 telescopes into thepassage 28 of the mandrel, it engages the flapper valve 29 and moves itto its lower open position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and then its bottomthreaded portion 41 moves into the reduced threaded portion 36 of thebore or passage of the mandrel whereupon the string of tubing is rotatedto cause the threaded lower end portion 41 of the depending conduit tobe secured to the mandrel. The control fluid line 50 may be wound aboutthe tubing during such rotation of the valve housing since it isrelatively flexible or ductile. If desired, of course, the control fluidline may be rotated simultaneously with the tubing at the surface toprevent such winding thereof about the tubing.

When the depending conduit is releasably secured to the mandrel, and theengagement of the shoulder 44 of the enlargement 42 with the shoulder 34of the mandrel prevents further downward movement of the valve housinginto the mandrel, the O-ring 43 is in sealing engagement with the sealsurface 33 of the mandrel below the ports 32 of the mandrel and theO-ring 48 engages the internal surfaces of the mandrel defining theupper enlarged portion of the bore of the packer mandrel.

If sufiicient fluid pressure has been maintained in the bore 65 holdingthe piston 64 in the lowermost position illustrated in FIGURE 2 duringthe downward movement of the valve housing through the casing and itsconnection to the packer mandrel, the operative elements of the flowcontrol device will now be in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 2. Iffluid pressure has not been so maintained in the bore 65 of the valvehousing, the piston 64 is in its uppermost position in the valve housingand the flapper valve 75 and the sleeve valve 81 are in their upperclosed positions as shown in FIGURE 3. Fluid pressure may then beintroduced through the control fluid line 50 into the bore 65 above thepiston 64 to cause it to move downwardly in the valve housing whereuponthe depending piston extension 68 first engages the flapper valve 75 andmoves it to its open position and then engages the flange 97 of thesleeve valve and moves the sleeve valve downwardly against the forceexerted thereon by the spring 99 to its open position. The operativeelements of the flow control are then in the position illustrated inFIGURE 2.

When the operative elements of the flow control ap paratus are in thepositions illustrated in FIGURE 2, well fluids from below the packer mayflow upwardly to the flow line 54 connected to the top end of the tubingthrough the lowermost portion 106 of the bore or flow passage of thepacker mandrel, the flow passage 95 of the depending conduit, the boreof the flange 97 of the sleeve valve, the passage 72 of the piston 64and its ex tensions, the passage 61 of the valve housing and the tubing40. Simultaneously, the well fluids from below the packer may also flowupwardly to the surface, to the flow line 53 which opens to the casing,through the apertures or ports 32 and the flow passage 28 of the packermandrel, the portion 90 of the passage of the valve housing, the lowerportion of the bore 83, of the sleeve valve below its flange 91, the nowcommunicating and aligned ports 82 and 85 of the sleeve valve and of thevalve housing, respectively, and the annulus or annular passage betweenthe valve housing and the string of tubing 40.

The surface control apparatus 51 may be of any suitable well known typehaving means which are responsive to the pressure in the annulus and thetubing, the pressure from the annulus being communicated to the controlapparatus through a suitable conduit 107 which opens to the casing andthe pressure within the tubing being communicated to the controlapparatus through a conduit 108 which opens to the passage of the tubingat the surface. The control apparatus may also have a manually operatedmeans 110. If the pressure within the tubing or the well casing movesout of predetermined ranges, the control apparatus will disconnect thecontrol fluid line 50 from the source of pressure and will communicateits upper end with the atmosphere to permit the pressure therein todecrease, whereupon the piston 64 moves upwardly permitting the flappervalve 75 and the sleeve valve 81 to move to their upper closedpositions.

If it is thereafter desired to reopen the flow control device to permitflow of the well fluids both through the tubing and the annulus, fluidunder pressure is again introduced into the cylinder 65 through the flowfluid line 50 to again move the piston and the sleeve valve to theirlowermost positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

If it is desired that the well fluids flow to the surface only throughthe tubing, the control apparatus 51 is set to maintain a maximumpressure in the cylinder 65 which will move the piston to and hold it inthe intermediate position illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereupon the fluidwill flow to the surface only through the tubing. In this case also, thecontrol apparatus 51 may be made responsive to the pressure within thetubing or within the tubing and the annulus to cause the fluid withinthe cylinder 65 to be vented and permit the valve piston to be movedback to its upper position to stop flow through the tubing whenever thepressure within the tubing or within the annulus, moves out ofpredetermined pressure ranges.

If due to some malfunction or damage to the flow control device, such asrupture of the control fluid line 50, the piston cannot be moveddownwardly from its closed position to its open position, the piston maybe moved to and held in its intermediate or its lowermost position by asuitable tool 120, FIGURES 5 and 5-A which is movable into the tubingthrough a suitable sealing or stufiing box means 121 mounted on the wellhead. For example, such means may include a pair of threaded posts 122secured to the well head in any suitable manner and extending upwardlytherefrom and above the flow line 54. The upper end of the tubing isprovided with an upwardly opening extension 124 which is closed by aseal plate 125 mounted on the posts which extend through suitableapertures in the seal plate and held in place by nuts 126. The sealplate has an opening through which an elongate member 128, such as asmall diameter pipe or rod, may extend movably and be engaged by asealing means 129 of the seal plate. The rod has a collet tool 130mounted on its lower end which may be of the same general type as theOtis Type F Collar Stop illustrated and described on page 3667 of theaforementioned Composite Catalogue and which includes a mandrel 131rigidly secured in any suitable manner, as by a coupling 132, to thelower end of the rod 128 and a collet member 133 releasably secured in alower position on the mandrel by a shear pin 134 which extends throughsuitable aligned apertures in the upper tubular portion 135 of thecollet member and the mandrel. The collet member has a pair of resilientcollet fingers 136 and 137 which initially are held in retractedpositions by a latch wire 138 pivotally connected to one latch finger137. The latch wire has a hook portion 139 which is engageable with apin 140 carried by the other latch finger 136. The outer end of thelatch wire extends outwardly of the outer surface of an external boss142 of the latch finger 136 when it is in latching engagement with thepin 140 thereof. The external bosses 142 and 143 on the lower ends ofthe collet fingers 136 and 137 have downwardly facing abrupt stopshoulders 144 which are engageable with the annular top shoulder orsurface 145 of the upper piston extension 63. These stop shoulders, whenthe latch fingers are in their retracted posi tions, are held out ofengagement with any upwardly facing obstructions such as the upper endsof each section of the tubing, during downward movement of the collettool through the tubing.

The mandrel has an enlarged bottom end portion which provides anupwardly and outwardly beveled camming shoulder 151 which is engageablewith the inner upper cam shoulders 153 of the collet fingers and withsimilar inner lower upwardly facing stop shoulders 154 thereof. Downwardmovement of the rod 128 relative to the collet member 133, after theshear pin 134 is sheared, is limited not only by the engagement of theshoulder 151 with the stop shoulders 154 of the collet fingers but alsoby the engagement of the top end surface 156 of the collet member withthe bottom surface of an annular stop member 157 rigidly secured in anysuitable manner to the rod.

When the piston 64 is to be moved downwardly by the tool 130, the rod128 is moved downwardly through the tubing until at least the lower endportions of the collet fingers move downwardly beneath the downwardlyfacing shoulder 160 of the valve housing defining the upper end of theenlarged portion 65 of its bore. The rod is then lifted upwardly tocause the outer end of the latch wire to engage the downwardly facingshoulder 160 and, as upward movement of the rod is continued, the hookportion 139 of the resilient latch wire moves out of engagement with thepin 140 and thus releases the lower ends of the collet fingers foroutward movement. The rod is then moved downwardly again and, as the topshoulders 162 of the external bosses 142 and 143 move below the housingshoulder 160 the lower ends of the collet fingers move resilientlyoutwardly so that their bosses are disposed between the top end surface145 of the piston extension 63 and the shoulder 160, the space betweenthese shoulders, when the piston is in its uppermost position asillustrated in FIGURE 3, being wide enough to receive the externalbosses therein. Further downward movement of the rod will now cause theabrupt shoulders 144 of the bosses to engage the top shoulder 145 of thepiston rod extension 63. The piston being biased upwardly by the spring,a downward force then imparted to the piston rod will cause the shearpin 134 to shear, whereupon the mandrel moves downwardly relative to thecollet member, and lower cam surface 151 of its enlargement 150 engagingthe upper shoulders 153 of the collet fingers and camming the lower endof the collet fingers outwardly if these have not moved fully outwarddue to the resilient force of the collet fingers. Such downward movementof the rod 128, and the mandrel 131 relative to the collet member iscontinued until the shoulder 151 engages the inner lower shoulders 154of the collet fingers and the flange 157 engages the top surface 156 ofthe collet member, whereupon the collet member moves downwardly with themandrel. A downward force may then be imposed on the rod 128, as bymeans of the force plate 165, which has apertures through which theposts 122 extend, and the nuts 166 on the post, the rod having anexternal flange 167 engageable by the plate. The plate may be forceddownwardly by rotating the nuts threaded on the posts. Such rotation ofthe nuts will now move the rod and the tool 130 downwardly relative tothe tubing and the valve housing. Such downward movement of the forceplate will now move the piston downwardly either to its intermediateportion or to its lowermost position and flow of well fluid may takeplace through the flow control device, as desired. The flow controldevice will, when the piston 64 is held in its lower position by the rodand tool 120, of course not function to prevent such flow in the eventthat pressure conditions in the tubing or in the annulus move out ofpredetermined ranges since it is held rigidly in open position.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 6, if it is desired to performremedial operations on the well, the upper portion or valve housing maybe removed from the well by first rotating the tubing to release thedepending conduit 39 from the packer mandrel. As the depending conduitis removed upwardly from the packer mandrel, the flapper valve 29 of thepacker closes and the pressure in the casing above the mandrel may thenbe reduced to facilitate removal of the tubing and the upper portion orvalve housing 39 of the flow control device from the well. The surfaceequipment will of course include usual sealing or blowout preventerswhich prevent flow of fluid from the well during removal from orinstallation in the well of the tubing. The lower end of the tubing maythen have an extension 39a rigidly secured thereto as by a suitablecoupling 170. The extension 39a is similar to the depending conduit 39of the flow control device 26 and has a similar enlargement 42a providedwith an O-ring 43a and a reduced externally threaded bottom end portion41a whose threads are engageable in the threaded portion 36 of the boreof the packer mandrel. The tubing with the extension 39a secured to itslower end is then moved downwardly until the lower end of the extensionmoves into the passage 28 of the packer mandrel, its lower end engagesthe flapper valve 29 and moves it to its open position, and then thetubing is rotated to cause the lower bottom end portion 41a of theextension 39a to threadedly engage and be releasably secured in thethreaded portion 36 of the bore of the packer mandrel. Downward movementof the extension is of course arrested when the shoulder 44a of itsenlargement 42a engages the shoulder 34 of the packer mandrel. Fluidflow can then take place through the tubing and through the annulusbetween the well casing and the tubing and its extension.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 7-A, 7-B, 7C of the drawings, theactual structure of a flow control device 26 embodying the invention isshown with the packer in anchored and sealing engagement with the Wellcasing and the piston 64 in its lowermost position in the valve housing35. The packer mandrel 26a includes a top section 201, a slip carriersection 202 threaded on the neduced lower end portion of the topsection, a flapper valve section 203 whose upper end is threaded on theslip carrier section, a port section 204 whose upper end is threaded inthe lower internally threaded portion of the valve section, and a bottomsection 205. Suitable seal means, such as O-rings 206 are disposed insuitable annular recesses to seal between such pairs of mandrel sectionsas is desired.

The anchoring and seal means 27 of the packer includes a top annularslip carrier 208 which is initially held in an upper position on the topmandrel section by a shear screw 209, with its upper portion of enlargedinternal diameter 210 telescoped over the intermediate under portion 211of the top mandrel section. A plurality of radially outwardly movableupper slips 214, of the anchoring and seal means are initially disposedabout the upper mandrel section and held in their retracted positions bya frangible wire 215 which is received in circumferentially alignedexternal grooves or slots of the slips. The slip carrier is providedwith an annular external flange .218 which extends into the internalslots 219 of the slips and the slips are provided with internal flanges220 which are receivable in the internal annular recess 221 of the upperslip carrier. The downwardly facing shoulder 222 of the top slip carrieris engageable with the top end surfaces of the upper slips 214.. Anupper annular expander 223 of the anchoring and sealing means isinitially releasably held in an upper position on the mandrel by a setscrew 224 with only its uppermost end portion extending between the topmandrel section and the lower portions of the slips. The slips and theexpander are provided with arcua te outwardly and downwardly extendingsurfaces 227 and .228, respectively, so that downward movement of theslips relative to the expander will move the slips laterally outwardlyand cause their upwardly facing teeth to move into gripping or anchoringengagement with the internal surfaces of the well casing.

The anchoring and sealing means 27 also includes a plurality ofresilient annular sealing elements 230, 231, and 232 with retainer rings233 and 234 disposed between the intermediate seal element 231 and thetop and bottom seal elements 230 and 232, respectively. The retainerring 233 is initially releasably held in an upper position on the topmandrel section by a shear screw 235 and similarly the lower retainerrings 234 is releasably held in an upper position on the mandrel by ashear screw 236.

A lower slip expander 240 of the anchoring and sealing means 27 disposedimmediately below the bottom sealing element is initially held in anupper position on the top mandrel section by a shear screw 241. Back uprings 244 ll 1 and 245 are preferably disposed between the expanders 223and 240 and the top and bottom seal elements, respectively. The back uprings bridge the gap between the expanders and the well casing when thepacker is set to prevent extrusion of the substance of the seal elementsbetween the expanders and the well casing.

The anchoring and seal means 27 also includes a lower set of slips 250which are initially held in the retracted position by a frangible wire251 received in aligned circumferential Slots or recesses of said slipswhen the lower expander 240 is held in the upper position relative tothe lower slips by the shear screw 241. The lower slips have internalflanges 253 which are receivable in the external annular recess 254 ofthe slip carrier mandrel section 202 and with internal slots 255 inwhich the external annular flange 256 of the slip carrier section isreceivable. The upwardly facing annular shoulder 258 of the slip carriersection is engageable with the bottom end surfaces of the lower slips tolimit their downward movement on the packer mandrel.

The slip carrier section 202 of the packer mandrel has a beveled seat atits lower end having an internal annular recess in which is received anO-ring or other suitable seal means 260 which is engageable by theannular Shoulder or seat surface 261 of the flapper valve 29. Theflapper valve is pivotally mounted, as by a suitable pin 262, on themandrel section 203 and is biased upwardly toward its upper or closedposition by a coil spring 266 disposed about the pin 262. One ofstraight end portions of the spring bears against the outer surface ofthe flapper valve and its other Straight end portion bears against theinternal surface defining the enlarged portion 31 of the bore of thepacker mandrel.

The port mandrel section 204 is provided with the passages or ports 32.The internally threaded portion 36 of the mandrel bore, in which thethreaded end portion 41 of the depending conduit 39 is engageable, isprovided by the bottom mandrel section 205. A tension sleeve 269, thelower portion of which may be seen in FIGURE 7B, is threaded in theupper end of the packer mandrel.

The valve housing 35 includes a top section 27 having a reduced upperend portion in which is receivable the threaded lower end of the tubing40 and which has the passage 66 which opens to the cylinder or enlargedbore 65 of the valve housing. The upper end of the passage 66 isenlarged and threaded as at 271 to receive the threaded lower endportion of the control fluid conduit 50. The housing also includes apiston section 272 Whose upper end is threaded on the lower end of thetop section, a connector section 273 whose upper end portion is threadedin the lower end portion of the piston section, a port section 274having the ports 85 whose upper end portion is threaded on the lower endportion of the connector section, and a bottom section 275 whose topreduced end portion is threaded in the port housing section.

The depending conduit 39 includes a top section 280 on which is mounteda ring 281 which provides the top annular shoulder 104 which is engagedby the spring 99. The spring ring 281 is held against downward movementby a suitable split ring 282 which is received in a suitable externalannular recess of the top section of the depending conduit.

The depending conduit also includes a connector or coupling section 285which is threaded on the upper section thereof. The coupling section hasexternal circumferentially spaced annular recesses 287 in which arereceived the inner portions of pins 288 which extend through suitableapertures in the valve housing section 275 into the annular recess 287.The pins 288 may be welded or otherwise secured in seal tightrelationship to the valve housing section 275 and hold the dependingconduit against longitudinal movement relative to the valve housing. Theintermediate section 290 of the depending conduit is threaded in thelower end of the connector section 285 and its lower end is threaded inthe 12 upper end portion of the bottom section 292 which is providedwith the external threaded bottom end portion 41.

The packing or seal means 48 which is enga-geable with the seal surface33 of the packer mandrel is disposed on the intermediate section 290between the top shoulder 295 of its bottom section and the bottomshoulder 296 of a retainer ring 297 whose upward movement on theintermediate section is limited by the engagement of its top annularshoulder or surface with the downwardly facing annular shoulder 298 ofthe intermediate section.

The sleeve valve 81 includes a top section 300 having the internalflange 91 engageable by the bottom end of the dependent piston extension68 which provides the downwardly facing shoulder 100 which is engageableby the upper end of the spring 99. The top section of the sleeve valveis provided with a longitudinally extending slot 302 in which isreceived slidably the outer end of a guide pin 303 rigidly secured tothe top section of the depending conduit. The guide pin preventsrotation of the depending conduit relative to the sleeve valve.

The middle section 305 of the valve sleeve provides the ports 82 and theflange 91 which has the seal means 92 which seals between the sleevevalve and the depending conduit 39. The middle section also carries theseal means 86, 87 and 88 which seal between the valve housing and thevalve sleeve. The seal means 88 is disposed bet-ween the annulardownwardly facing shoulder 308 of the middle section and the top endsurface or shoulder 309 of its bottom section 310. The top and bottomsections have external annular recesses in which the sealing means 86and 87 are disposed.

The piston 64 includes a tubular member 312 which provides the upper andlower piston extensions 63 and 68, respectively, and an annular pistonring 313 is disposed on the tubular member and held against displacementthereon by a pair of split retainer or lock rings 314 and 315 which arereceived in suitable external annular recesses of the tubular member.The piston ring is provided with internal and external annular recessesin which are disposed 'O-rings 316 and 317 which seal between the pistonring and the tubular piston member 312 and the valve housing. Downwardmovement of the piston is limited by the engagement of the bottomsurface of the piston ring with the top surface 318 of the connectorhousing section 273. The spring which biases the piston upwardly in thevalve housing engages the bottom surface of the piston ring and the topannular surface 319 of a retainer ring 320 held against downwarddisplacement in the valve housing by a seat ring 321. The seat ring hasa suitable internal annular recess in which is disposed the resilientseal ring 323 which is engageable by the annular seat shoulder or seat325 of the flapper valve 75. The flapper valve is biased upwardly by aspring 327 which is disposed about the pin 76 by means of which theflapper valve is pivotally secured to the seat ring and whose oppositeend portions bear against the internal annular surface of the valvehousing section 274 and the outer surface of the flapper valve. A guidepin 330 which extends through a suitable aperture of the spring retainerring 320 has its inner portion received in a suitable longitudinalrecess or groove 332 of the tubular member. The guide pin 330 preventsrotation of the piston relative to the housing to insure that each timethe piston moves from its upper to its lower position its beveledsurface or edge 334 will engage the inner surface 335 of the flappervalve. Such beveled surface facilitates the movement by the piston ofthe flange valve to its open position. The flapper valve is providedwith a recess 336 in its inner surface in which the lower portions ofthe guide pin are receivable to ensure that the guide pin will notprevent movement of the flapper valve to its fully closed position.

When the packer is to be set in the well casing, the mandrel 26a isconnected to one portion of the setting tool by means of the tensionsleeve 269 whose lower end is threaded in the top mandrel section 201and whose upper end is threadedly secured to the setting tool. Thesetting tool also has an element which is engageable with the top slipcarrier .208 and which when the setting tool is operated moves the slipcarrier 208 and therefore the upper slips 21-4 downwardly relative tothe upper expander 223 and to the mandrel. The shear screws 209, 224,235, 236 and 241 increase progressively in shear strength so that adownward force imparted to the top slip carrier causes the shear screw209 to shear while the upper expander is still secured against movementrelative to the mandrel. Such downward movement of the top slip carrierand the top slips relative to the upper expander moves the upper slipsoutwardly until their upwardly facing teeth engage the internal surfacesof the casing and prevent further movement of the slips of the expander.Upward movement imparted to the mandrel then causes the upper expanderto move upwardly relative to the upper slips until the slips are inanchoring engagement with the well casing whereupon the shear screw 224falls. Continued upward movement of the mandrel then causes the shearscrews 235 and 236 to shear successively as the sealing elements arecompressed between the upper and lower expanders and expanded radiallyoutwardly into sealing engagement with the well casing since lowerexpander 240 moves upwardly with the mandrel. When the sealing elementsare in fully expanded position and the lower expander is held therebyagainst further upward movement, the continued upward movement impartedto the packer mandrel causes the shear screw 241 to shear whereupon thelower slips 250 move upwardly relative to the lower expander and aremoved outwardly into anchoring engagement with internal surfaces of thewell casing and thereafter prevent downward movement of the lower eX-pander in the casing. When upward force is not being applied the lowerslips prevent downward movement of the lower expandenThe upper and lowerslips then hold the packer in the well casing and hold the sealingelements in expanded sealing engagement with the casing. When the slipsand the sealing elements are in their fully expanded positions in thecasing, the mandrel can no longer move upwardly and increased upwardforce exerted by the setting tool causes the tension sleeve 269 to failor rupture thus disconnecting the setting tool from the packer andpermitting removal of the setting tool from the packer and well casing.During the lowering and setting of the packer in the well casing, theflapper valve 29 may be held in its open position by a suitable rod orstinger of the setting tool and then, as the setting tool is movedupwardly and the rod or stinger is withdrawn, the flapper valve 261 willbe moved to its closed position by its spring 266 and any upwardlyacting pressure differential existing thereacross.

If it is thereafter desired to move the upper portion of the flowcontrol device, that is the valve housing 35, into operative connectionwith the packer mandrel, the valve housing is secured to the lower endof the string of tubing 40 by means of its top section 270 and is thenlowered into the well. As the depending conduit 39 of the valve housingmoves downwardly through the packer mandrel, it engages the flappervalve 29 and moves it downwardly to its open position. The string oftubing and therefore the depending conduit is then rotated to the left,as seen from above, to cause the lower threaded portion 41 of thedepending conduit to engage the threaded portion 36 of the bore of thepacker mandrel. When the depending conduit is connected to the packermandrel, its seal means 48 sealingly engages the sealing surface 33 ofthe packer mandrel. The seal means 43, disposed in the suitable externalrecesses of the bottom valve housing section 275 then engages the sealsurface defining the enlarged portion .30 of the bore of the packermandrel and the shoulder 46 of the valve housing engages the shoulder 47of the packer mandrel. I

If, during the lowering of the valve housing 35, fluid pressureintroduced through the control fluid line 50 has been maintained in thecylinder sufficiently great to hold the piston 64 in its lowermostposition in the valve housing, the operative elements of the flowcontrol device will now be in positions shown in FIGURES 7-A, 7-B and7-C. If they have not been so held, they are now in the positionsillustrated in FIGURES 8-A and 8-B, with the piston 64 in its uppermostposition and the flapper valve and the sleeve valve 81 in their closedpositions, and fluid is prevented from flowing either through theannulus between the string of tubing and the casing and also through thetubing itself. If it is then desired to open the tubing to permit flowof fluids through the tubing, control fluid under pressure istransmitted to the cylinder 65 above the piston 64 through the controlfluid line herein described previously and as the force of the spring 70and of the spring 327, which holds the flapper valve closed and of anyupwardly acting pressure differential exerted on the flapper valve, isovercome by such control fluid pressure, the piston 64 moves downwardlyand the flapper valve is moved to its open position. If the pressure inthe cylinder 65 is now maintained at such value that it does not movethe piston to its lowermost position but only to the position wherein itextends just below the flapper valve 75, flow of fluids can take placeonly through the tubing, since the sleeve valve is not opened. If it isdesired to permit fluid flow through the annulus as well as the tubing,the pressure in the cylinder 65 above the piston 64 is increased to moveit downwardly to its lowermost position. As the piston moves downwardly,its lower end moves into the top section 300 of the sleeve valve andengages its flange 91, the sleeve valve 81 is moved downwardly againstthe force of the spring 99 to its lowermost position wherein the portsor passages 82 of the sleeve valve are in alignment and communicationwith the ports 85 of the valve housing.

If it is thereafter desired to remove the upper portion of the packerfrom the well casing, the string of tubing 40 is rotated at the surfaceto disengage the threaded lower end portion 47 of the depending conduitfrom threaded engagement with the threaded portion 36 of the bore of themandrel. The valve housing may then be removed upwardly and during theremoval of the valve housing the pressure in the cylinder 65 above thepiston 64 may either be maintained to hold the sleeve and flapper valvesin their open positions or may be reduced to permit the piston 64 tomove upwardly and the flapperand sleeve valves to move upwardly to theirclosed positions.

Thereafter, if it is desired to perform remedial operations on the well,as by circulating fluid downwardly through the string of tubing to belowthe packer and then upwardly through the annular above the packer, adepending extension 39a is secured to the lower end of the tubing, asshown schematically in FIGURE 6, the tubing is lowered again into thewell and rotated to connect the depending extension to the packermandrel, whereupon fluids may be circulated downwardly through thetubing and the depending extension 39a thereof, and the lower portion106 of the bore of the packer mandrel to the casing below the wellpacker and then upwardly through the ports 32 of the packer mandrel, thebore of the packer mandrel and the annulus back to the surface.

It will be apparent that the upper portion of the flow control devicemay be considered to be aflow control assembly which provides an innerflow passage which extends through the depending conduit, the piston andthe upper portions of the bore of the housing, and an outer flow passagebetween the depending conduit and the housmg.

It will further be seen that such flow control assembly has a sleevevalve for closing the port means of the housing which communicate theouter flow passage with the exterior of the housing and a flapper valvefor closing the bore of the housing, and thus the inner flow passage.

It will further be seen that the provision of the sleeve valve and theflapper valve which are operable by the piston permits selective openingand closing of the inner and outer flow passage both when the flowcontrol assembly is secured to the packer and when it is being movedinto the casing or being removed therefrom.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A flow control device including: a well packer comprising a mandrel,anchoring and sealing means for anchoring said mandrel in a well casingand sealing therebetween, said mandrel having a longitudinal bore andport means opening to said bore from below said sealing means, firstvalve means for closing said bore above said port means, means biasingsaid valve means toward closed position, said mandrel having connectingmeans in said bore below said port means; and a flow control assemblycomprising a valve housing having a depending tubular membertelescopable into the bore of said mandrel and having connecting meansat its lower end engageable with said connecting means of said mandrelfor releasably connecting said assembly to said packer mandrel, saidtubular member moving said first valve means to open position as it istelescoped into the bore of said mandrel, said housing and saiddepending tubular member having a first passage communicating with theexterior of said packer mandrel below said sealing means and a secondpassage communicating with the exterior of said packer mandrel belowsaid sealing means through said port means of said mandrel, said housinghaving port means above said sealing means, said second passagecommunicating with the exterior of said housing above said sealing meansthrough said housing port means.

2. The flow control device of claim 1, and second valve means in saidhousing for closing said first and second passages.

3. The flow control device of claim 2, and pressure responsive means insaid housing operatively associated with said second valve means in saidhousing for operating said second valve means to open and close saidfirst and second passages.

4. The flow control device of claim 3, and means biasing said secondvalve means in said housing toward closed positions; and means fortransmitting control fluid under pressure to said housing to act on saidpressure responsive means to cause said pressure responsive means tomove said second valve means to open position.

5. A flow control assembly including: a tubular housing connectable atits upper end to a flow conductor; depending conduit means having alongitudinal flow passage therein having an upper portion extendingupwardly into said housing and providing with said housing a downwardlyopening outer longitudinal passage; said housing having port meansopening the upper portion of said outer longitudinal passage to theexterior of said housing; first valve means movable in said housing forclosing said port means; means biasing said first valve means toposition closing said port means; piston means longitudinally movable insaid housing between first and second positions and having alongitudinal passage communicating axially with the flow passage of saidconduit means, said piston means when in said first position in saidhousing providing with said housing and said depending conduit means anaxially continuous longitudinal unobstructed open inner flow passageextending through said housing and said depending conduit means, saidpiston means and said first valve means having coengageable means formoving said first valve means from closed position to open position uponmovement of said piston means to said first position; and second valvemeans movably mounted in said housing for closing said inner flowpassage when said piston means is disposed in said second position insaid housing and spaced from said valve, said second valve means beingengaged by said piston means to be moved to open position out of saidaxial passage by said piston means when said piston means is disposed inan intermediate position in said housing out of the engagement with saidfirst valve means whereby said first valve means is closed when saidpiston means is in said intermediate position, said piston means andcooperating means engaging and holding both said second valve means andsaid first valve means open when said piston means is moved to saidfirst position in said housing.

6. The flow control assembly of claim 5, wherein said second valve meansin said housing for closing said inner flow passage is disposed in saidhousin above said first valve means and between said piston means andsaid first valve means.

7. The flow control assembly of claim 6, and means biasing said pistonmeans toward said second position.

8. The flow control assembly of claim 7 wherein said housing has meansfor introducing control fluid under pressure into said housing to act onsaid piston means to move said piston means to said first position.

9. The flow control assembly of claim 5, and means biasing said pistonmeans toward said second position.

10. The fiow control assembly of claim 5 wherein said housing has meansfor introducing control fluid under pressure into said housing to act onsaid piston means to move said piston means to said first position.

11. A flow control assembly including: a tubular housing having alongitudinal bore extending therethrough; piston means movablelongitudinally in said bore between first and second positions; meansbiasing said piston means to said first position, said piston meanshaving a longitudinal passage, said housing having means for conductingfluid under pressure thereinto to act on said piston means and move saidpiston means toward said second position; first valve means in saidhousing for closing said bore; means biasing said first valve meanstoward closed position; said housing having port means communicatingsaid bore with the exterior thereof below said first valve means; saidhousing having a tubular member extending upwardly into said bore andhaving a longitudinal passage opening to said bore below said firstvalve means and to the exterior of said housing below the lower end ofsaid housing, said piston means when in said second position providingwith said housing and said tubular member an inner longitudinal flowpassage, said tubular member and said housing providing an outerlongitudinal passage opening to the exterior of said housing below saidfirst valve means through said housing port means and also at the lowerend of said housing above the lower end of said tubular member; secondvalve means in said housing below said first valve means for closingsaid housing port means and movable in said housing between positionsopening and closing said port means; means biasing said second valvemeans toward closed position; and an elongate tubular section projectinglongitudinally from said piston means and movable therewith, saidtubular section being engageable with said first valve means to holdsaid first valve means in open position and engageable with said secondvalve means to hold said second valve means in open position when saidpiston means is in said second position, and being moved out ofengagement with either of said valve means when said piston means is insaid first position whereby both said valve means are closed, saidtubular section being engageable with said first valve means and beingout of engagement with said second valve means when said piston means isin an intermediate position between said first and second positions,whereby said first valve means is held open and Wh g QOI1d valve meansremains closed.

12. The flow control assembly of claim 11, wherein said tubular memberis provided with connecting means at its lower end for releas-ablyconnecting said tubular member to a packer mandrel in which it istelescopable.

13. In combination with the flow control assembly of claim 11, a wellpacker including: a mandrel, anchoring and sealing means for anchoringsaid mandrel in a flow conductor and sealing therebetween, said mandrelhaving a longitudinal bore and port means opening from the exterior ofsaid mandrel to said bore below said sealing means, said mandrel havingconnecting means in said bore below said ports, said tubular member ofsaid flow control assembly being telescopable into said longitudinalbore of said mandrel, said connecting means of said tubular member andsaid mandrel being engageable to releasably connect said tubular memberto said mandrel.

14. The device of claim 13 where said mandrel of said packer is providedwith valve means for closing said longitudinal bore above said portmeans and with means biasing said valve means toward closed position.

15. In a well having an outer flow conductor: packer means anchored insaid flow conductor above a producing formation of the well, said packerincluding a tubular mandrel having anchoring and sealing means thereonfor anchoring and sealing said mandrel in said well flow conductor; aninner flow conductor extending through said outer flow conductor andspaced therefrom to provide an outer passageway; and a flow controlassembly releasably connecting the lower end of said inner flowconductor to said mandrel, said inner and outer flow conductors, saidflow control assembly and said mandrel providing first and secondpassages extending from the surface of the well and communicating withthe producing formation, said flow control assembly having valve meansfor selectively closing said first and second passages and comprising: atubular housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough;piston means movable longitudinally in said bore between first andsecond positions; means biasing said piston means to said firstposition, said piston means having a longitudinal passage, said housinghaving means for conducting fluid under pressure thereinto to act onsaid piston means and move said piston means toward said secondposition; first valve means in said housing for closing said bore; meansbiasing said first valve means toward closed position; said housinghaving port means communicating said bore with the exterior thereofbelow said first valve means; said inner flow conductor in said packerextending upwardly into said bore of said housing and having itslongitudinal passage opening to said bore below said first valve meansand to the exterior of said packer below the lower end of said housing,said piston means when in said second position providing with saidhousing and said inner flow conductor an inner longitudinal flowpassage, an outer longitudinal passageway having an opening to theexterior of said housing below said first valve means through saidhousing port means and also having an opening to the exterior of thepacker at the lower end of said passageway above the lower end of saidpacker and said inner flow conductor; second valve means in said housingbelow said first valve means for closing said housing port means andmovable in said housing between positions opening and closing said portmeans; means biasing said second valve means toward closed position; andan elongate tubular section projecting longitudinally from said pistonmeans and movable therewith, said tubular section being engageable withsaid first valve means to hold said first valve means in open positionand engageable with said second valve means to hold said second valvemeans in open position when said piston means is in said secondposition, and being moved out of engagement with either of said valvemeans when said piston means is in said first position whereby both saidvalve means are closed, said tubular section being engageable with saidfirst valve means and being out of engagement with said second valvemeans when said piston means is in an intermediate position between saidfirst and second positions, whereby said first valve means is held openand said second valve means remains closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,277,380 3/1942 Yancey 166-115 X2,766,831 10/1956 Otis 166114 X 2,831,539 4/1958 En Dean et a1.

2,951,536 9/1960 Garrett a- 16645 X 2,963,089 12/1960 Sizer 166722,971,581 2/1961 Reglin 1661 14 X 3,040,811 6/1962 Pistole et a1. 166-723,156,300 11/1964 Page 166-72 X 3,163,225 12/1964 Perkins 166-428 X3,313,350 4/1967 \Page 166-72 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.I. A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

